What's on

Wednesday 9 November 2016 / 6pm

Bharat Bhushan Goswami - sarangi
Nehru Centre, London

SAMA Arts Network in association with The Nehru Centre Present

Pt. Bharat Bhushan Goswami is one of the leading Artists of Indian Classical Music. He is the grandson of Pt. Anmol Chand Goswami, a singer of traditional Havelli Sangeet related to the temple of Radha Rani at Barsana, Mathura. He had his initial training in vocals from his Grandfather and later became interested in Sarangi under the guidance of Pt. Kanhaiya Lal Ji of Mathura. Subsequently, he got an opportunity of coming under the tutelage of the sarangi maestro Late Pt. Hanuman Prasad Mishra of Banaras Gharana and Padmabhushan Pt. Rajan Mishra and Sajan Mishra.

Pt. Goswami displays striking mastery in conception and elaboration of ragas. He performs both as a soloist and an accompanying artist. He has participated in many prestigious concerts in India and abroad. He is currently a Top Grade Artist for All India Radio and an outstanding artist of ICCR. He has received the Latif Khan Samman award of Bhopal.

Tuesday 29 November 2016 / 6pm

Anand Bhate - Khyal Vocal
Nehru Centre, London

SAMA Arts Network in association with The Nehru Centre Present

Anand Bhate is one of the most promising artistes in the new generation of the great Kirana tradition. He started his musical journey from childhood and since then he has continued to present diff erent exponents of Hindustani Classical. He has the privilege of being the disciple of the great classical vocalist, Bharat Ratna Pandit Bhimsen Joshi, doyen of the Kirana gharana, a legend in his lifetime.

Anand was a gift ed child prodigy from a family that had a background in classical music as well as Marathi drama. His great-grandfather, called famously as Bhatebua, was known for his prowess in rendering the ‘Th umari’ and ‘Natyasangeet’. Anand’s father has been a devoted fan of Balgandharva, the legendary singer-actor of the Marathi stage during the fi rst half of the last century.

Anand has given classical music performances all over India and abroad, which includes many prestigious music conferences like Sawai Gandharva Sangeet Mahotsav, Pandit Jitendra Abhisheki Sangeet Samaroha, Saptak Music Festival, NCPA concerts, LearnQuest Music Conference (Boston) etc. He won the National Award for Best Playback Singer for the year 2011 for the fi lm Balagandharva. He shows a remarkable versatility in being able to present a wide variety of music, right from the classical Khayal gayaki to the semi-classical exponents like Th umri, Natyageet and Bhajans/Abhagas. He has also contributed to the Marathi stage by performing the role of Shri Krishna in the musical play Sangeet Saubhadra. He has been felicitated by awards like Dr. Prabha Atre puraskar, Pt. Sangameshwar Gurav puraskar, Vidushee Manik Verma puraskar, etc

Friday 9 December 2016 / 6pm

Punita Gupta - Sitar
Nehru Centre, London

SAMA Arts Network in association with The Nehru Centre Present

Punita Gupta has been a performer and teacher of Indian classical music in the UK for over 40 years. She has performed extensively all over the country and also in Europe and presently lives in Harrow. She has been in the forefront of introducing Indian music in London schools and had positions of co-ordinator for Indian Music Teaching for Ealing and Brent for many years before her retirement.

Punita learnt Indian Classical Music in India from very young age. She came to UK in 1971. She attended a concert by Pt. Ravi Shankar at the Royal Albert Hall in 1973 and realized there is lot more to learn. She approached Pt. Ravi Shankar after the concert, who was happy to take her as his student.

As a teacher, she has the rare distinction of producing such high quality students that her students have performed in the school proms at the Royal Albert Hall four times in 1992, 2006, 2007 and 2008.

Punita and several of her students will perform at this event to showcase the beauty of Ragas. Some students of Clive Bell, who teaches at the Bhartiya Vidya Bhavan will also accomany.

Wednesday 14 December 2016 / 6pm

Avartan
Nehru Centre, London

SAMA Arts Network in association with The Nehru Centre Present

Avartan meaning cycle, weaves in influences from various world music styles, with an emphasis on the classical backgrounds the trio share. The project explores a soundscape of musical traditions with an array of contemporary fl avours. The trio features Rekesh Chauhan(Piano), Alok Verma(Tabla/Percussions) and John Garner (Violin). Jointly, they have toured internationally, performed to audiences and shared stages with world renowned artists.

Rekesh Chauhan has performed with his own bands in arenas as well as appearing as a solo pianist in some of the world’s prestigious concert halls. With his early training in Indian Classical Music from his Father and Guru, he went on to study Western Classical Music. Unifying a new style has made him a phenomenon amongst listeners. He is one of the few who perform Indian Classical music on the Piano. He has shared the stage with the likes of Mercury Prize award winner Talvin Singh, Tabla giants such as Ustad Tari Khan and has been featured on the BBC radio stations.

Alok Verma’s repertoire spans spiritual world music, fusion, indo jazz, hip-hop and African drumming. He has performed alongside Boris Grebenshikov, Aquarium International at the Royal Albert Hall and with Ian Anderson (Jethro Tull) at the Barbican, London. His experience ranges from playing at the Winterthur International Film Festival in Switzerland to portraying Mahatma Gandhi’s life through music at ‘SOAS’.

John Garner is a graduate of the Royal College of Music. He is a violinist and is currently studying jazz at postgraduate level at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama. He pursues numerous avenues in his music making, including regular appearances in the UK and abroad with the Hot Club Ensemble, electronica band Polaroid 85, with his jazz quartet and the BBC Symphony Orchestra.

Mystic Voices events from 2013-2016

Wednesday 27 July 2016 / 6:30pm

Folk Music Traditions of Rajasthan • Film/Talk/Music
Nehru Centre, London

The vast unending expanse of burning hot sand that makes up the Thar Desert of Rajasthan hosts one of the most vibrant and evocative music cultures of world. The heady, hypnotic combination of rhythm and melodies sung and played by the Langas and Manganiyars are part of the eternal appeal of this mysterious and wondrous land. The soulful, full throated voices of these two music communities have filled the cool air of the desert night for centuries in a tradition that reflects all aspects of Rajasthani life. Songs for every occasion, mood and moment; stories of legendary battles, heroes and lovers engender a spirit of identity, expressed through music that provides relief from the inhospitable land of heat and dust storms

The Langas and Manganiyars are groups of hereditary professional musicians, whose music has been supported by wealthy landlords and aristocrats for generations. Both sing in the same dialect, but their styles and repertoires differ, shaped by the tastes of their patrons. The monarchs of the courts of Rajput and Jaipur maintained large music and dance troupes an in an environment where the arts were allowed to flourish. Though both communities are made up of Muslim musicians, many of their songs are in praise of Hindu deities and celebrate Hindu festivals such as Diwali and Holi.

Thursday 4 August 2016 / 6:30pm

Uday Bhawalkar is one of the foremost Dhrupad vocalists and a strong force in its growing recognition and popularity. Uday believes that when immersed in the note and raga, the self disappears and music takes on its own existence; the principle of ‘darshan’. These values are helping him on the path of devotion to Dhrupad. Dhrupad is one of the oldest forms of North Indian classical music and Uday maintains its majesty and subtle nuances. Dhrupad is a living and evolving classical music tradition. Uday has developed a unique style deeply embedded in raga ras and bhaav.

Dhrupad is one of the oldest forms of North Indian classical music and Uday maintains its majesty and subtle nuances. Dhrupad is a living and evolving classical music tradition. Uday has developed a unique style deeply embedded in raga ras and bhaav.
This brings a creative melodic addition to the precise intonation and pronunciation characteristic to the Dhrupad style. Uday spent over 12 years studying and living in the traditional guru-shishya parampara with Ustad Zia Fariduddin Dagar (Vocal) and Ustad Zia Mohiuddin Dagar (Rudra-Veena), the towering pillars of the Dhrupad tradition. During this period there was a simple and complete concentration on the music itself. This intimate relationship, in which the Ustads willingly gave their inner secrets along with Uday’s devotion, brought him to a deep sense of completeness and wholeness.

Uday believes in gaining the state of “sahaj”, being equally at ease in concerts large or small. While teaching, Uday creates a nurturing environment for his students and continues to bring a new life to the ancient tradition of Dhrupad. For Uday, every musical act is a blessing and a stage on his life’s journey.

Saturday 6 August / 7.30pm

Qawwal Najmuddin Saifuddin And Group: In Praise Of Khusrau
Tileyard Studios , London

The family of Qawal Najmuddin Saifuddin group trace their ancestry back to the 13th-century around the time of Hazrat Amir Khusrau. Their family until recently was led by the late Ustad Bahuddin Qawwal, one of the great exponents of Khusrau’s work and his sons Najamuddin/ Saifuddin are considered today as the leading singers of the Sufi Qawwali tradition.

Friday 19 August 2016 / 6:30pm

Vandana Somaiya – Bhakti Songs
Nehru Centre, London

Vandana was taught in the early years by her father (Mansukhlal Kotak), an accomplished harmonium and vocal artist of Hindustani classical music who initiated her at an early age. She accompanied her father and sister and numerous Indian festivals and by the age of 16 had won her first music competition in London. This award encouraged her and this propelled her to learn from the well respected and esteemed classical music guru, Pandit Pratap Narayan (father of renowned music directors Jatin-Lalit), and elder brother of Pandit Jasraj.

A pivotal time in her musical journey was in 2004 when she was invited by Gajendra Singh (Director of TV reality show, Sa Re Ga Ma) to join a workshop in Mumbai with contestants of ‘Sa Re Ga Ma’, which was being facilitated by the Bollywood industry’s legendary Guru, Ustad Ghulam Mustafa Khan who encouraged her to become his disciple to further cement her grasp and understanding of this extremely tough discipline. She travels to India three times a year from London to broaden her knowledge in Indian classical music with her Guru Ji.

She has had an excellent vocal music experience from of Bollywood’s classical music maestro’s Ravindra Jain (‘Daadu’) and with her training on voice culture from specialist Subhra Dasgupta has been of great assistance. Recently, her new album has been released by the well-known vocalist Shri Anup Jalota.

Sunday 29 November / 6:30pm

Gifted, mellifluous, extremely talented Chandra Chakraborty was considered as a child prodigy in India by many of the doyens of Indian Classical Music. Chandra started singing at the tender age of 3. Her first teacher was her mother Smt Manju Chakraborty.

She was a research scholar at Sangeet Research Academy where she learnt khyal from Pt A Kanan and Smt Malabika Kanan. Presently learning Thumri, Dadra, Kajri from Padmabhushan Smt Girija Devi. Chandra is also Gold Medalist in Thumri from All India Radio and a National Scholar of Music and Dance.

Tuesday 24 November / 6:30pm

Deepa Nair Rasiya - Sufi
Nehru Centre, London

London British-Indian singer songwriter, Deepa Nair Rasiya has been making waves in recent years, on the World Music platform internationally and is being increasingly recognized as a pioneering and innovative composer with a deeply soulstirring vocal style. Her South Indian heritage, combined with her exploration of and training in both Western music and North Indian Classical music have come together to shape her into a unique musician straddling with ease a range of musical genres and earning her an unrivalled place amongst the female Indian vocal artistes of the UK today. Deepa has the ground-breaking Sufi album titled ‘DESTINATION’ which was released in July 2015 and a Shabad Kirtan album SARANAI which is due for release at the end of 2015.

Friday 20 November / 6:30pm

Krishna Chakraborty - Khyal
Nehru Centre, London

London Krishna Chakraborty is a Hindustani classical vocalist. She was groomed by the saintly Kirana guru, Pt. Bholanath Bhatt for seven years. She continued her training under maestros Ustad Mushtaq Hussain Khan, Sangeet Acharya Tarapada Chakraborty, Pt. Nivruttibua Sarnaik and Pt. V.G. Jog She is equally at ease singing Khayal, Th umri, Tappa, Dadra and light classical music. She has imbibed the various nuances of each gharana and has developed a unique style of her own. Her music moved Swami Dharmananda so much that he christened her with the title, ‘Sanatani,’ which is another name of the Goddess Saraswati meaning eternal. Krishnaji currently resides in London as a guru and performer.

Wednesday 18 November / 6:30pm

Papia Ghoshal - Baul
Nehru Centre, London

London "Baul Papia & Basihnav Tantra", the music group, dedicated mainly to baul music was founded by Papia Das Baul in Prague in 2008 to present rare traditional Indian music to the outside world. Th is music is gradually disappearing and Papia, classically trained at the University of Calcutta in the Indian vocal styles, is bringing it to fresh audiences in the West, thus bridging one of the cultural gaps between India and the Western world..

Sunday 8 November / 6:30pm

Suhas Vyas - Khyal
Bhavan Centre, London

London Pandit Suhas Vyas was born in Osmanabad in 1949. He started his musical education at a young age and had the privilege of being guided and mentored by none other than his illustrious father Padmabhushan Pandit C.R. Vyas. Although he belongs to the traditional discipline of three different gharanas, namely Gwalior, Agra, and Kirana, he has incorporated the tempered flavour of his father’s gayaki into a distinctively individual style. His performances are marked with a deep and learned interpretation of the raga and a sense of rediscovering the traditions that he has learned in. Suhas has performed on prestigious platforms all over India and abroad. He is also a graded artist at All India Radio and has recorded several albums, and has been promoting Indian Classical music by training several students and conducting lecture demonstrations all over the world.

Saturday 14 December 2013 / 7:30pm

Ashwini Bhide Deshpande

Ashwini Bhide Deshpande is an outstanding vocalist of the famed ‘Jaipur-Atrauli’ Khyal vocal tradition and is one of the foremost representatives of a new generation of singers. Her musicianship is characterized by a blend of tonal sweetness coupled with vitality and emotion. She possesses an unerring grasp over the grammar of the raga whilst maintaining a unique quality of soulfulness in her singing. Ashwini is also fluent in Sanskrit, which further enriches her repertoire by the inclusion of Bhakti tradition poetry, stotras (sacred songs) and stutis (hymns). She has added to her devotional repertoire by composing melodies for many of these texts.

Ashwini has been recorded widely and has published two acclaimed books - ‘Ragarachananjali’ is a collection of her own compositions (bandishes) – for which she has received much praise for its tremendous musical creativity and presentation.

Ashwini’s contribution to Hindustani classical vocal music has been acknowledged by way of awards and citations. Most recently she has been the recipient of the Pt. Mallikarjun Mansur Memorial Award 2013.

Gundecha Brothers

Umakant and Ramakant Gundecha are among the best performers of Dhrupad (traditional sung poetry of Northern India), the oldest vocal genre in the Hindustani classical tradition. After a classic university education combining music with economics and commerce respectively, the Gundecha brothers trained in Dhrupad under the masters Ustad Zia Fariduddin Dagaras and Ustad Zia Mohiuddin Dagar. The Gundecha Brothers have set up a dhrupad institute – gurukul – in Bhopal where about 30 students from all over the world learn Dhrupad music under guru-shishya parampara.

The brothers have worked to expand their dhrupad repertoire by incorporating the Bhakti poetry of Kabir, Tulsidas, Padmakar, Nirala and others. Akhilesh Gundecha has learnt Pakhawaj from Pandit Shrikant Mishra and Raja Chhatrapati Singh Ju Deo and has accompanied many Dhrupad Maestros.

The Gundecha Brothers have released about 50 records for HMV, Music Today, Times Music, Sony, Sundaram Records, Navras and others. They have also performed and conducted workshops at many international music festivals and institutions in over 25 countries.

Umakant and Ramakant Gundecha have been awarded with the ‘Padmashree’ in 2012 in the field of Art - Indian Classical Music – Vocal.

Thursday 1 May 2014 / 7:30pm

Manjiri Asanare-Kelkar - The Bhakti Tradition / North Indian Khyal, Vocal Bhavan, London

Manjiri Asanare-Kelkar is one of the most acclaimed vocalists in India today. Born into a family of musicians, she took up lessons in classical vocal music under the guidance of Shri M.T. Mhaiskar and later on from Pandit M.S. Kanetkar, a disciple of Ustad Bhurji Khan.
With her highly refined and melodious voice, Manjiri is looked upon as a true successor of the complex and rich vocal style of the Jaipur Gharana, which has included such great names as Alladiya Khan and Kesarbai Kerkar. She is in great demand as a soloist in India and abroad, and has performed at international venues and festivals such as WOMAD and the BBC proms.

Vishwanath Shirodkar - Tabla

Friday 20 June 2014 / 7:30pm

Uday Bhawalkar - North Indian Dhrupad & Dhamar, Vocal Bhavan, London

Manjiri Asanare-Kelkar is one of the most acclaimed vocalists in India today. Born into a family of musicians, she took up lessons in classical vocal music under the guidance of Shri M.T. Mhaiskar and later on from Pandit M.S. Kanetkar, a disciple of Ustad Bhurji Khan.
With her highly refined and melodious voice, Manjiri is looked upon as a true successor of the complex and rich vocal style of the Jaipur Gharana, which has included such great names as Alladiya Khan and Kesarbai Kerkar. She is in great demand as a soloist in India and abroad, and has performed at international venues and festivals such as WOMAD and the BBC proms.

Vishwanath Shirodkar - Tabla

Tuesday 22 July 2014 / 7:30pm

Madhup Mudgal is one of the leading Indian classical singers of his generation. His performances combine a highly musical aesthetic with a uniquely scholarly approach, thereby maintaining the purity of this tradition. He is the director of the famous Gandharva Mahavidyalaya, the oldest music school in Delhi (which celebrates its 75th anniversary this year), founded by his father and guru Vinay Chandra Maudgalya. His family’s musical heritage spans more than five decades, and Madhup Mudgal has had the privilege of studying under several great gurus of Hindustani music, including Shri Vasant Thakar, Pandit Jasraj and Kumar Gandharva.

Savani Mudgal - Vocal support & tanpura.

Tuesday 10 March 2015 / 7:45pm

Vidya Shah is a well-known Indian singer, musician, social activist and writer. This evening she will be presenting a special concert that celebrates the mystic poets of medieval India, whilst bringing alive some of the most powerful and ecstatic expressions of love, devotion and surrender from both the Sufi and Bhakti strains of spiritual poetry - including the immortal verses of Meerabai, Bulleh Shah, Kabir and others.

Vidya combines her music with a deep understanding of its social history, which particularly comes through in her thematic performances such as with ‘The Last Mughal’ with author William Dalrymple or her Sufi renditions that explore the feminine in the mystic.

Tuesday 21 April 2015 / 6:30pm

Sanjeev Chimmalgi - Hindustani Classical Vocal Nehru Centre, London

Sanjeev Chimmalgi is one of the most promising Hindustani classical singers of the new generation. He has been singing professionally for the past 25 years and has performed all over India, the USA and the UK.

Sanjeev’s technique combines a highly musical aesthetic with a uniquely lucid and refined approach, and his concerts are noted for the delicacy of his approach to both swar (note) and bol (lyrics). His singing style incorporates aspects of the Kirana, Gwalior and Agra gharanas of music, which he imbibed from master vocalist and Guru, Pandit CR Vyas.

Brought to The Nehru Centre by Sama Arts Network & Navras Records, Sanjeev will be accompanied by Neha Chimmalgi on tanpura, Sanjay Jhalla on tabla and Rekesh Chauhan on harmonium.

Sunday 28 June 2015 / 7pm

Iran’s Kayhan Kalhor and India’s Shujaat Husain Khan reunite in London to continue their longtime Persian and Indian collaboration.

The spellbinding Ghazal Ensemble continues its highly influential and original Persian and Indian collaboration with a rare performance. Iran’s kamancheh (spiked fiddle) master Kayhan Kalhor and India’s sitar (stringed lute) virtuoso Shujaat Husain Khan have toured the world over to critical acclaim for creating this intoxicating, delicate fusion. They are joined by the superb tabla player Sandeep Das.

This highly influential group has toured the world over to critical acclaim and is lauded for creating an original, delicate Indo-Persian fusion blending their two distinctive classical music traditions: the Persian dastgah and North Indian raga. Intertwined historically, geographically and culturally for centuries, these musical styles share some formal elements and modes which allow for exquisite and harmonious dialogue between the two traditions.

Shujaat Husain Khan, one of today’s greatest North Indian artists, represents the seventh generation of illustrious musicians in the Imdad Khan gharana (musical lineage) which includes his father the great sitarist Ustad Vilayat Khan. Kayhan Kalhor, a creative force in today’s international music scene, is considered the preeminent ambassador of Persian music. He is known for stirring improvisations, exquisite compositions, and extensive collaborations with artists including Yo-Yo Ma, Brooklyn Rider, Kronos Quartet and Osvaldo Golijov.

“An irresistible expression of creative musical passion.” (LA Times)

Presented by Arts Stage in association with Sama Arts Network

Tuesday 21 July 2015 / 7:45pm

Madras String Quartet / Raga Garage Purcell Room, London

Madras String Quartet and Raga Garage perform music influenced by Indian and European classical tradition.

Madras String Quartet is made up of VS Narasimhan (violin), Mohan Rao (violin), K Sasikumar (viola) and VR Sekar (cello). They combine Indian classical compositions and Western harmonic principles. www.madrastringquartet.com

Raga Garage are Jyotsna Srikanth (Carnatic classical violin), Robert Atchison (Western Classical violin) and Shadrach Solomon (piano) along with ethnic percussion. A melting-pot of Indian and European classical influences, they create a fresh new sound. www.ragagarage.com

Ustad Irshad Khan
The Music Room, London

Saturday 1 October 2016 / 7pm

Parissa + Meshk Ensemble
The Barbican, London

From the serene and beautiful to the hypnotic and physical, this concert brings together two very different interpretations of the poetry of Rumi, the 13th-century Persian scholar and mystic whose work had a huge impact on Islamic culture and spiritual Sufi music.

Few artists bring life to Rumi’s poetry quite like Parissa. One of the most revered Iranian singers performing today, her striking vocals portray the full range of emotions in Rumi’s words, tapping into the spiritual qualities of his work.

Capturing in a totally different way the ecstatic joy of Sufi music, the Meshk Ensemble are one of the world’s finest ‘whirling dervish’ groups, a sect of Turkish Sufis descended from followers of Rumi. They perform the mystical sema ceremony, where dancers spin in circles, drawing hypnotic patterns on stage that are echoed by entrancing music played on traditional Turkish instruments, and building to a rousing crescendo

Saturday 8 October 2016 2016 / 10Am - 6pm

Umakant and Ramakant Gundecha are the leading exponents of the Dhrupad style of music. They are among the most active performers in Indian and international circuits.

They were conferred “Padmashri” in 2012 by the Govt. of India for their contribution in the field of Dhrupad and Indian Classical Music.

Born in Ujjain in Central India, both were initiated into music by their parents. Gundecha Brothers received conventional university education and learned the Dhrupad vocal art under the renowned Dhrupad vocalist Ustad Zia Fariduddin Dagar and also with Ustad Zia Mohiuddin Dagar (the distinguished performer of Rudra Veena) under guru shishya paramapara in Dhrupad Kendra Bhopal.

The Gundecha Brothers have sung great Hindi poetry by Tulsidas, Kabir, Padmakar, Nirala in Dhrupad style. They have recorded widely with many labels and have toured internationally throughout the world

Sunday 9 October 2016 2016 / 6pm

Gundecha Brothers - Dhrupad
Tileyard STudios, London

Presented by SAMA Arts Network in association with The Dhrupad Institute UK Presents

Umakant and Ramakant Gundecha are the leading exponents of the Dhrupad style of music. They are among the most active performers in Indian and international circuits.

They were conferred “Padmashri” in 2012 by the Govt. of India for their contribution in the field of Dhrupad and Indian Classical Music.

Born in Ujjain in Central India, both were initiated into music by their parents. Gundecha Brothers received conventional university education and learned the Dhrupad vocal art under the renowned Dhrupad vocalist Ustad Zia Fariduddin Dagar and also with Ustad Zia Mohiuddin Dagar (the distinguished performer of Rudra Veena) under guru shishya paramapara in Dhrupad Kendra Bhopal.

The Gundecha Brothers have sung great Hindi poetry by Tulsidas, Kabir, Padmakar, Nirala in Dhrupad style . They have recorded widely with many labels and have toured internationally throughout the world

Monday 10 October 2016 2016 / 7:30pm

Rani Khanam Dance Company - Kathak Dance
Bhavan Centre, London

Rani Khanam is one of the most sensitive and astute interpreters of Lucknow Gharana of Kathak today. Her style reflects deep comprehension of the dance tradition which has set new dimensions and source of inspirations to younger generation. A powerful and imaginative dancer, Rani Khanam displays a breathtaking technique in both pure dance and in the art of abhinaya.

A cultural visionary, beside an outstanding exponent of Kathak, her contribution to the field of art is profound and unparalleled in traditional dance history. A powerful and imaginative dancer, Rani Khanam displays a breathtaking technique in both pure dance and in the art of abhinaya.

A total belief in herself and the courage to follow her aspirations which made Rani Khanam today the only Indian Muslim Kathak classical dancer of distinction who braved to dance on Islamic verses & Sufiana verses of mystic Sufi poets. It was her faith and dedication to dance that helped her scale heights having a series of firsts with her name.

As an artiste, choreographer and guru, she always strives for excellence. Rani Khanam performs both classical Kathak and her unique repertoire of sacred dances. Her bold and intellectual compositions in traditional themes are brilliant and unique.

SECTION 1 FRONT £20
SECTION 2 REAR £15
SECTION 3 BALCONY £10

The Bhavan Centre, 4a Castletown Road, London W14 9HE

Nearest Tube Station
West Kensington - District
Barons Court - Piccadily / District

Monday 21 March 2016 / 6:30pm

Women in Music Festival featuring KHIYO
Nehru Centre, London

Khiyo are a London-based six-piece band playing radical, modern interpretations of Bengali heritage music. The band was formed in 2007 as a collaboration between British-Bangladeshi vocalist Sohini Alam and London-based composer Oliver Weeks in order to explore new ways of presenting traditional Bengali music whilst preserving its essence. Their sound mixes powerful and expressive interpretations of the classics with dynamic and original arrangements that draw on South Asian and Western folk and classical traditions, rock, blues and jazz Khiyo has been nominated in the Best Group category of the 2016 Songlines Music Awards.

Tuesday 22 March 2016 / 6:30pm

The acclaimed double bass player - Daphna Sadeh and South Indian Violin player - Jyotsna Srikanth collaborate with new and exciting Indian and Balkan -Jazz compositions. Their performance will celebrate their virtuosity of Jazz -Klezmer and Carnatic musical heritage together with new sound they create. With them will perform a group from the top Jazz musicians in the UK.

Daphna and Jyotsna aim to explore beyond their musical backgrounds (Israel and India ) and find the musical common ground. As women musicians they aspire to fulfil their creative ability and to project it in a significant way.

Wednesday 23 March 2016 / 6:30pm

Women in Music Festival featuring FLUX
Nehru Centre, London

FLUX are a four-member London-based band who create cinematic tunes that have shades of Indie, Urban, Indian and Western Classical. Playing violin, bansuri, guitar and piano as the core, the band is developing a reputation for their multi-instrumental talents and virtuosity. Their music, described as “intricate, energizing and beautiful,” often leaves impressions of Cinematic Orchestra, Nitin Sawhney, Jethro Tull and Radiohead with its striking melodies and rhythmic drive. With members who have come from a variety of different back grounds, they seamlessly bring together genres and tones creating truly unique and thought provoking compositions, both instrumental and vocal.

Women in Music Festival featuring Anuradha Pal's Stree Shakti
London

Anuradha Pal’s Stree Shakti is the World’s first all-female percussion based Indian Classical band, featuring an electrifying blend of Hindustani and Carnatic repertoires, instruments, voice & percussion; sometimes even spiced with Kathak dance.

Founded in 1996, this innovative & path-breaking band has challenged gender stereotypes, celebrating the emergence of woman power in the ‘male-bastion of Indian Rhythm’ & promoting female empowerment, inclusion, opportunity, equality & dignity. This dynamic celebration of rhythm, fusing the traditional with the contemporary, reinforces the strength & novelty of ‘Stree Shakti’.

Saturday 27 March 2016 / 5pm

Sanhita Nandi
The Music Room, London

Vidushi Sanhita Nandi is one of the most acclaimed artists of Hindustani Classical Vocal, of current times. She presents herself as a representative exponent of Kirana Gharana. Sanhitaji has established herself as a very influential and loving Guru. She has students all across the globe. She is currently based in New Jersey (USA) and New Delhi (India). Sanhita Nandi also holds a dual degree in Music & History with Master’s degree in World History.

Shahabaz Hussain: Tabla
Madhu Vora: Harmonium

Music Room Events: Presented by Friends Hearth in association with Sama Arts Network

Friday 1 April 2016 / 6:30pm

Women in Music Festival featuring Abi Sampa
Nehru Centre, London

When Abi Sampa burst onto the BBC’s The Voice, she captured the hearts of the viewing public. Sampa and her band of talented musicians presents a unique blend of sounds, inspired by the late Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan and Indian classical music. Abi Sampa follows the tradition of qawwali singing from the Doaba region of the Indian Punjab and blends Carnatic and Western music with traditional qawwali, creating unexpected sounds and explosive rhythm patterns. The performance features fusion-style love songs as well as more traditional qawwalis performed in Punjabi.

Wednesday 6 April 2016 / 7pm

Spring in the Season of Love
Brunei Gallery, London

We’re delighted to present a special commission by the Bagri Foundation in association with The Prince’s School of Traditional Arts. In this performance, Love is celebrated through its many stages of union, separation, quarrels, and reconciliation with unmitigated passion. This is a unique concert which weaves the theme of Love through a vibrant collection of Indian Miniatures, with the mesmerising singing of Meeta Pandit’s selection of Hindustani lyrics, and Dr Vayu Naidu’s enthralling storytelling inspired by Indic folk and epic literatures. Their voices are carried by powerful music from Sanju Sahai on tabla, Rekesh Chauhan on harmonium, Mitel Purohit on dholak, Darshana Vora and Dipti Vyas on tanpuras.

Dr Meeta Pandit will conduct a Vocal Workshop at the Bhavan 3rd April 10am to 1pm (£ 25)
and also will appear at a Women in Music Symposium on 7th April 6.30pm Nehru Centre

Thursday 7 April 2016 / 7pm

Women in Music Symposium
Nehru Centre, London

Sama Arts brings leading women artists from the South Asian artistic sphere to discuss their individual career paths in music and dance. This discussion seeks to highlight how gender shapes perception, economic prospects, creative choices and struggles of an artist, especially in the South Asian arts. The symposium will consist of individual presentations by each of the participants as well as audience interactions.

This symposium manifests Sama’s desire to address the wider imbalance of gender relations within the British Asian communities through the arts. Through music, we seek to ask those tough questions,that are often ignored, about the role of women in British Asian communities which often struggle with the challenges of the 21st century, not infrequently because of lingering traditional perceptions of gender roles.

Who could possibly be more qualified to claim those spaces that have traditionally been off-limits, than some of the finest women artists of the subcontinent and its diaspora?

Friday 8 April 2016 / 6:30pm

Najma Akhtar, British born, vocalist, songwriter actor, achieved a place in World Music by creating a new musical genre, introducing Jazz to the traditional genre of the Ghazal (Urdu ballad) and Sufi and draws much of inspiration that resonate with Indian semi classical traditions through Folk, Blues and American C & W. Her last collaborative album ‘Rishte’ pushed sound barriers yet again by introducing psychedelic sounds to her list of eclectic influences. This has spurred Najma to continue this musical journey of ‘Five Rivers’.

Sunday 10 April 2016 / 6:30pm

Manju Mehta
Bhavan Centre, London

Manju Mehta is one of India’s most renowned female sitarists. A senior disciple of Pandit Ravi Shankar, and hailing from a very well- known family of musicians in Jaipur, she combines beauty, creativity and tradition to bring out the “Rasa” (colours) of Indian Classical music. Although Mehta may initially attract attention due to being a woman in a traditionally male-dominated arena, it’s her amazing sense of melody, rhythmic control and the sheer beauty of her improvisation that make a lasting impression. She possesses the essential artistry of Indian music in the ability to breathe life into the raga form, earning high praise from the masters of the field. “She is a creative performer of exceptional calibre,” warmly notes sarod player Ustad Ali Akbar Khan.

Thursday 21 April 2016 / 6:30pm

Priti Paintal is well known on the UK scene as composer, performer, music producer and promoter. She has established herself writing for leading British performers increasingly focusing attention on her ensemble Shivanova which is one of the leading cross-cultural ensembles grounded in Indian and European styles, widely admired and enjoyed for the energy and flair of its improvising. Her music brings together traditional, classical and jazz performers in a unique mix of Indian roots and contemporary flair.

Friday 22-24 April 2016 / 7:30pm

Women in Music Festival featuring Women In Art Exhibition At Tileyard Studios
Tileyard Studios, London

Bhairavi Modi completed post-diploma course in creative painting from in MS University, Baroda.Painting and creating art is a source of joy for the artist whose work is inspired by nature and the happenings around her. Her narratives appear in mix of people, events and landscape in dense imagery and bold colours.
Masoom Khambhayta completed post diploma course in painting from MS University in Vadodara. Her semi-abstract work entails motion, and dynamism of life. The blurred figures and briskly coloured compositions are divided in broad bands. Her youthful outlook, enthusiasm, adventurous spirit comes through in the work.
Shanta Samant from West Bengal, trained in art and sculpture from MS University in Vadodara. Working mostly in bronze her work encompasses human form and its dynamics. Male and female figures in delicate posturing entail body movement adding to the dramatic effect in her formations.
Suchi Chidambaram from South India shifted, is primarily a self-taught artist she paints in oil on canvas. Her imagery offers views of the cities, people, and architecture that she has travelled through. It absorbs stories that she comes across and the experiences she encounters.

Friday 22 April 2016 / 7:30pm

British-Indian singer songwriter, Deepa Nair Rasiya has been making waves in recent years, on the World Music platform internationally and is being increasingly recognized as a pioneering and innovative composer with a deeply soul-stirring vocal style. Her South Indian heritage, combined with her exploration of and training in both Western music and North Indian Classical music have come together to shape her into a unique musician straddling with ease a range of musical genres and earning her an unrivalled place amongst the female Indian vocal artistes of the UK today.

Friday 22 April 2016 / 9:30pm

Women in Music Festival featuring DJ Ritu - Club Nite
Tileyard Studios, London

DJ Ritu, pioneering international turntablist & BBC Radio presenter, hosts/produces A World in London at SOAS Radio, University of London, and at Resonance 104.4FM. In the 90’s she co-founded Outcaste Records, signing Nitin Sawhney and Badmarsh & Shri. She has toured extensively in over 30 countries with her bands Sister India and the Asian Equation, performing at major venues and festivals including The Big Chill, WOMAD, The Royal Festival Hall and Trafalgar Square. Joining BBC London in 2006, she inherited Charlie Gillett’s slot, and then expanded it into ‘A World In London’. The show is recognized as an essential meeting point for world music fans and a hub for the industry. It has an unrivalled reputation for presenting a rich cultural mix that truly reflects the diverse musical tastes of London and its people. 2016 sees DJ Ritu in her 30th year on the decks!

£15 /

Saturday 23 April 2016 / 7:30pm

Women in Music Festival featuring Nahid Saddiqui
Tileyard Studios, London

Mirage’ is a new exploration in which the intangible realm of dreams and human consciousness is explored. ‘Mirage’ explores how the maati (earth/clay) that we come from becomes sentient and begins to imagine, think and dream. This project will enable me to develop a language of dance that encompasses my past exploration of the subject and expand on it further, exploring the mystic, ethereal and invisible aspects and layers of human consciousness - Nahid Siddiqui.

Saturday 23 April 2016 / 9:30pm

Women in Music Festival featuring DJ Ritu - Club Nite
Tileyard Studios, London

DJ Ritu, pioneering international turntablist & BBC Radio presenter, hosts/produces A World in London at SOAS Radio, University of London, and at Resonance 104.4FM. In the 90’s she co-founded Outcaste Records, signing Nitin Sawhney and Badmarsh & Shri. She has toured extensively in over 30 countries with her bands Sister India and the Asian Equation, performing at major venues and festivals including The Big Chill, WOMAD, The Royal Festival Hall and Trafalgar Square. Joining BBC London in 2006, she inherited Charlie Gillett’s slot, and then expanded it into ‘A World In London’. The show is recognized as an essential meeting point for world music fans and a hub for the industry. It has an unrivalled reputation for presenting a rich cultural mix that truly reflects the diverse musical tastes of London and its people. 2016 sees DJ Ritu in her 30th year on the decks!

£15 /

Sunday 24 April 2016 / 10am

Women in Music Festival featuring Krishna Chakrabarty
Tileyard Studios, London

Krishna Chakraborty is a Hindustani classical vocalist. She was groomed by the saintly Kirana guru, Pt. Bholanath Bhatt for seven years. She continued her training under maestros Ustad Mushtaq Hussain Khan, Sangeet Acharya Tarapada Chakraborty, Pt. Nivruttibua Sarnaik and Pt. V.G. Jog She is equally at ease singing Khayal, Th umri, Tappa, Dadra and light classical music. She has imbibed the various nuances of each gharana and has developed a unique style of her own. Her music moved Swami Dharmananda so much that he christened her with the title, ‘Sanatani,’ which is another name of the Goddess Saraswati meaning eternal. Krishnaji currently resides in London as a guru and performer.

Gurdain Rayatt: Tabla
Rekesh Chauhan: Harmonium

£15 /

Sunday 24 April 2016 / 3pm

Supriya Nagarajan has trained in South Indian classical music and has worked with a number of artists from other genres creating new musical vocabulary and constantly widening the boundaries through collaboration. He new collaboration the LULLABY, THE SINGING BOWL Inspired by the Indian lullaby tradition is a contemporary exploration of night-time sounds from around the world interspersed with lullabies from India. Sound artist Duncan Chapman, works with a collection of night sounds from different parts of the globe, creating a unique soundscape that forms the perfect complement for the soothing Indian lullabies explored by vocalist Supriya Nagarajan and Shakuhachi (Japanese flute) player Mike McInerney.

Sunday 24 April 2016 / 5pm

Women in Music Festival featuring Swati Natekar
Tileyard Studios, London

Swati Natekar, is one of the leading artiste in the Indian classical vocal tradition, trained in all genres by her mother the Late Smt Shushila Pohankar and recently by her brother the eminent singer Pt Ajay Pohankar. Swati’s work as a vocalist has been highly respected in the UK and is known worldwide as the voice of “Nadia” on Nitin Sawhney’s Mercury nominated album ‘Beyond Skin’. She has also worked on various albums with artists to include Craig Armstrong (Composer of Hollywood movies ‘Moulin Rouge’ and ‘Romeo and Juliet’), Jakatta (‘American Dream’ – which was no. 3 in the UK main charts), Ustad Zakir Hussain, Talvin Singh, Niraj Chag (Khwaab), Sonu Nigam, Muzaffer Ali & many more.

Hanif Khan: Tabla
Rekesh Chauhan: Harmonium

£15 /

Friday 13 May 2016 / 6:30pm

Sound of the Sufis - Mystic Sufi Songs
Nehru Centre, London

Translated, this reads as: Khusro! The river of love has a reverse flow, He who floats up will drown (will be lost), and he who drowns will get across.
Sounds of the Sufis is India’s first Interactive Musical Documentary Theatre Performance. It traces the journey of Sufism from the 8th Century AD to its present day impact on our everyday lives.

Anuraag Dhoundeyal, Priyanka Patel, and Karan Chitra Deshmukh

Presented by Sama Arts Network in association with The Nehru Centre.

Free Admission / nehrucentre.org.uk

Friday 27 May 2016 / 6:30pm

Mehboob Nadeem - Sitar
Nehru Centre, London

Born into a highly distinguished family of traditional musicians of the Agra Gharana, Mehboob is the grandson of the legendary Ustad Vilayat Hussain Khan (Pranpiya) and Gayan Samrat Ustad Azmat Hussain Khan (Dilrang). Endowed with a rich melodious and sonorous voice, Mehboob Learnt from his father Ustad Yakun Khan, uncle Rafat Khan and now he is under the tutelage of Pandit Arvind Parikh.

Saturday 28 May 2016 / 7pm

Dev Joshi - Qawwali & Sufi Music
Beck Theatre, Hayes

Devdutt Joshi and his team of Qawaals & musicians present the journey of Qawalli to include the works of Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Sabri Brothers, Aziz Nazan, Abida Parveen through to the more commercial qawaalis in films by Mohd. Rafi, Manna Dey and some newer Sufi songs from present day.

Monday 30 May 2016 / 7pm

Ustad Rashid Khan - Taabeer - ‘Dreams’ -
Barbican Centre, London

Ustad Rashid Khan is one of the foremost vocalists in the Hindustani music tradition. He belongs to the Rampur-Sahaswan gharana (tradition), and is the great-grandson of its founder Inayat Hussain Khan. Pandit Bhimsen Joshi once remarked that Rashid Khan was the “assurance for the future of Indian vocal music”. He has been honoured with a national award of Padma Shri, as well as the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 2006.
Having learnt his art from his maternal grand uncle Ustad Nissar Hussain Khan and Uncle Ghulam Mustafa Khan, Rashid Khan made his performance concert at the of age eleven, and the in following year, 1978, he performed at an ITC concert in Delhi. In 1980 he followed his mentor Ustad Nissar Hussain Khan to the ITC Sangeet Research Academy (SRA), Kolkata. By 1994, he was acknowledged as a musician in his own right and today he hold a premier position in the field of vocal music. He is influenced with the style of Ustad Amir Khan and Pandit Bhimsen Joshi.

Friday 10 June 2016 / 7:30pm

One of the leading classical dancers of India, Madhavi Mudgal is credited with bringing a greatly refined sensibility to her art form. She has received repeated acclaim in the major cities and dance festivals that have featured her throughout the world. Apart from establishing a niche in the international dance scene as a soloist, she has received critical acclaim for her choreographic works. She is seen as one of the foremost teachers in her generation at the Gandharva Mahavidyalaya, New Delhi. She has also conducted workshops all over the world.

Tuesday 14 June 2016 / 6:30pm

Mowna Ramachandra is a well known Hindustani Classical Vocalist from Bangalore. She started her training with Pt.Arjunsa Nakod of Dharwad and continued under the expert tutelage of, Smt.Veena Sahasrabuddhe. Mowna has performed at several prestigious venues both within India and abroad. Mowna has received the Kesarbai Kedar Scholarship from NCPA. The Surmani award from Sur Singar Sansad and is an empannelled artist of the Indian Council of Cultural Relations - ICCR.

Sanjay Jhalla: Tabla

Kaleem Sheikh

Kaleem Sheikh is a singer/musician, musicologist, and Indian film and poetry expert. He was trained in music by Ustad Sultan Khan and has performed in the presence of many distinguished personalities including Shahjarian, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Ismail Merchant, Shambu Sen, Samir Sen, and Raj Kumar Rizvi. Kaleem has also worked for BBC Radio as a broadcast Music Journalist where he presented the A – Z of Indian Film and Classical music, whose work has been endorsed and acknowledged by members of The House of Lords in Britain

Friday 17 June 2016 / 7:30pm

Shubhendra Rao and Saskia Rao-De Haas
Bhavan Centre, London

Shubhendra Rao, sitar maestro and composer of outstanding merit having learnt his art in the true “Guru-Shishya Parampara”, living with and learning from his Guru, Pandit Ravi Shankar for over ten years. He was initiated in his training at the age of three with a first lesson from the master who visited him at his home. Through years of rigorous training and practice, Shubhendra received a firm foundation from where he could explore the realm of music and build his own intrinsic identity that created the solid foundation on which he could build the musical treasury he shows today.

Saskia Rao-de Haas is a brilliant cellist and composer from the Netherlands who is based in India. She has enriched North Indian classical music with her unique instrument, the Indian cello, and created a distinctive playing style with it. As a composer, she is eminent at bridging the Western and Indian classical music traditions. In addition to her prestigious status in India, Saskia is an accomplished Western classical cellist.

18 & 19 June / 5:30PM

Nrithya Uphaar - Festival of Indian Classical Dance
The Bhavan, London

Upahaar School of Dance is proud to present Nrithya-Upahaar 2016, a yearly international festival of Indian Classical dance. The festival will highlight this year the richness of the various Indian classical dance styles from the North to the South of India, such as Kathak, Odissi, Bharathanatyam, Mohiniattam and Kuchipudi.

Nrithya-Upahaar is an internationally acclaimed festival that will bring over two days some of the best artists in their field. Amongst them, will be Bharatanatyam dancer, Divya Shiva Sundar, a recipient of a scholarship from The Govt. of India, who participated in major productions in the US, Middle East and Europe; Arushi Mudgal, one of the foremost young talents in the field of Odissi today, known for her technical virtuosity and creative approach to tradition, acclaimed Kuchipudi dancer, Kopal Vedam; the ‘Kathakaars’, an Indian dance and music company making waves across the UK with their exquisite dance and soulful music; Mohiniattam and Bharatanatyam artists from Upahaar School of Dance, some of them performing regularly in the UK and abroad.

Presented by Upahaar School of Dance in association with Sama Arts Network

£15 & £12 for each day ( 3 dance programmes per day for price of one ticket) / bhavan.net

Sunday 19 June / 2PM

Baul Music Tradition – A Talk & Workshop
By Shri Ram Krishna Das
The Bhavan, London

Hindustani classical vocalist Ram Krishna Das is a Sangit Visharad and an approved Khayaal artist of All India Radio, Mumbai. He has published 14 books on music and is an honourable member to the editorial board of Samakālika Sangītham. He has performed classical, light classical, folk and devotional music.

Ram Krishna Das ji will conduct a talk, workshop on the Baul music (The Baul are a group of mystic minstrels from Bengal which includes Indian State of West Bengal and the country of Bangladesh). Bauls constitute both a syncretic religious sect and a musical tradition. Bauls are a very heterogeneous group, with many sects, but their membership mainly consists of Vaishnava Hindus and Sufi Muslims. They can often be identified by their distinctive clothes and musical instruments. Not much is known of their origin. Lalon Fokir is regarded as the most important poet-practitioner of the Baul tradition Baul music had a great influence on Rabindranath Tagore's poetry and on his music (Rabindra Sangeet).

The word Baul has its etymological origin in the Sanskrit word Vatula ('mad', from vayu - 'air' or 'wind') and is used for someone who is possessed or crazy. Bauls are an extension of the Sahajiya philosophy, which in turn derives from the Nath tradition. They believe in living the world as a half-sanyasi.

Friday 1 July 2016 / 6:30pm

Wasifuddin Dagar will talk about his Dhrupad Tradition and its future.

There will be film clips and lecture demonstration.

Sama Arts is very pleased to inaugurate the Dhrupad Institute in the presence of one the leading dhrupad exponents Ustad Wasifuddin Dagar. It is our intention continue its work on advancement of Dhrupad and voice culture Sama Arts Our seminar and workshop series will explore the histories and evolutionary trajectories of vocal traditions mentioned above whilst highlighting the spiritual, poetic and artistic aspects. These will feature scholars and distinguished speakers from the world of academia and broadcasting and music fraternities.

Ustad Wasifuddin Dagar is a member of the esteemed Dagar family and represents the 20th generation of an unbroken chain of dhrupad singers and veena players. Wasif is a renowned teacher and performer and helps carry on the familial tradition by organizing dhrupad festivals founded by his father and uncle in Delhi and Jaipur.

Over the years he has developed subtle variations and improvisations by modulation of volume and sound application to present many shades of the same musical phrase. The composite effect of his dhrupad rendition remains traditional, merging techniques and styles of both his teachers. He is very popular with young listeners for his lively lecture demonstrations illustrating old Vedic technicalities through metaphors from daily life.

Saturday 2 July 2016 / 10:30am

Dhrupad Workshop / Seminar
Tileyard Studios, London

The dhrupad workshop in classical vocal music with Ustad F Wasifuddin Dagar and Percussion by Parveen Arya.

Overview

Whether your ambition is to sing Khayal, Dhrupad, Ragam-tanam, Bhajan or filmi music, proper voice training can help you sing notes exactly in tune and project your voice better. This one day workshop will explore the learning of Indian Classical vocal training in the context of the Dhrupad style. With its accent on voice culture and the purity of notes and music, the Dhrupad style makes for a great introduction to Indian music as well as learning to sing. That is why Dhrupad is a popular training ground. We invite you to come discover your singing potential.
The workshops are designed with both the beginner and the enthusiast in mind, and participants should be able to find their preferred mix of lecture-demonstration and participatory learning. The themes for the workshops are:

Voice culture and training techniques

Raga exploration through alap technique, structure, use of the bol of alap

Improvisation in classical singing; the use of laya and taal

Learning and singing of a Dhrupad composition

Participation

Registration Fee: £25 for a day workshop and seminar: The workshops can be attended by anyone interested in the vocal music.

Registration: Workshop size are restricted to small classes. Since seats are limited, for assured participation please reserve a space by sending an email to: info@sama.co.uk or via Eventbrite.

Percussion workshop are offered in conjunction with the above if there is enough demand for it. This workshop demonstrates the use of time cycles in Dhrupad. The technique of playing Pakhawaj will be useful for Tabla players and percussionists. If you are interested, please write to info@sama.co.uk.

Sunday 3 July 2016 / 3pm

Haus Khas Connection

Sarangi, tabla, vocals, mouth percussion and Indian classical dance combine to draw you into the beautiful world of coincidence and connection. These remarkable performers bring together their unique experiences as global citizens weaving together ancient traditions and modern intercultural departure in a musical tapestry of classical Indian music and world fusion. Suhail Yusuf Khan is an 8th generation sarangi player and together his long-time friend Vishal Nagar, tabla player they have made unique ground breaking collaborations including Milaap ('coming together') and the project was titled after the historic village from medieval era, they will be joined by Arunima Kumar, a Kuchipudi dancer, and the trio will then come together and contribute toward a theme of Urdu poetry, ghazal and dance.

Natalia Hildner

This art form, Lucknow Gharana Kathak dance style embodies mystic themes due to its Bhakti and Sufi traditions, rooted in a thousand years of artistic, literary, and musical Hindu and Muslim co-existence.
Choreography which brings to life both the classical & the contemporary to reveal the uniqueness of KATHAK - a North Indian dance style.

Milad Yousufi: Rabab

Post dance talk with Dr Avanthi Maduri.

£17.50 /

Sunday 3 July 2016 / 6:30pm

Ustad F. Wasifuddin Dagar: Dhrupad
Cecil Sharp House, London

Wasifuddin Dagar is a member of the esteemed Dagar family and represents the 20th generation of an unbroken chain of dhrupad singers and veena players. Wasif is a renowned teacher and performer and helps carry on the familial tradition by organizing dhrupad festivals founded by his father and uncle in Delhi and Jaipur.

Concert in memory of Kirit Baxi (Late director of Navras Records).

£17.50 /

Sunday 10 July 2016 / 10:30am

Ustad F. Wasifuddin Dagar: Dhrupad
Tileyard Studios, London

Wasifuddin Dagar is a member of the esteemed Dagar family and represents the 20th generation of an unbroken chain of dhrupad singers and veena players. Wasif is a renowned teacher and performer and helps carry on the familial tradition by organizing dhrupad festivals founded by his father and uncle in Delhi and Jaipur.

Concert in memory of Kirit Baxi (Late director of Navras Records).

£14.11 /

Friday 15 July 2016 / 6:30pm

Filter Coffee - Contemporary Music
Nehru Centre, London

The Mumbai-based duo “FILTER COFFEE” offers a new look at Classical/Folk music through a modern electronic perspective by blending traditional Tabla/flute. Filter Coffee is the brainchild of Flautist Shriram and Percussionist Swarupa, who organically combine virtuosic improvisation with electronic soundscapes and hypnotic grooves. At this concert, they will be presenting Indian classical music and a set of folk tunes from across India with an electronic twist.

Free Admission / nehrucentre.org.uk

Sunday 24 July 2016 / 7:30pm

Nishaat Khan
Barbican Hall, London

A mesmerising performance from one of India’s finest musicians, sitar player Nishat Khan, accompanied on tabla by Shahbaz Hussain.

Acrobatic melodic lines and entrancing drones underpin Khan’s moving vocals, which take you a journey deep into the Indian classical tradition. To experience a performance from Nishat Khan is to witness a performer with absolute mastery of his instrument and form.

Stemming from a long line of Indian Classical musicians, Nishat Khan is the son of Imrat Khan and nephew of Vilayat Khan, vital figures in the popularisation of sitar music in the West. But Nishat is not restricted by tradition or musical legacy –embracing influences from Jazz, Flamenco, Gregorian Chant and Western Classical Music, working with artists as diverse as John McLaughlin, Philip Glass and Evelyn Glennie.

Monday 9 November 2016 / 6:30pm

Naveen Kumar and Anna Phoebe - Indian Fusion
Nehru Centre, London

Naveen Kumar is a flautist, music compose rand singer based in Mumbai, India. A prolific recording artiste who has contributed immensely to the Hindi, Tamil and Telugu film industries, he is best known for his collaborations with Academy-Award winning music composer AR Rahman. Apart from Indian flutes, Naveen is also proficient at playing rare and exotic varieties from across the world. He is the inventor of many unique wind instruments, the most renowned being The Naveen Flute, which combines the flute tone with the vibration of strings.

Violinist and composer Anna Phoebe has been thrilling audiences all over the world with her stunning live performances. Dazzling and charismatic, she’s played major arenas all over the United States, London venues including the Royal Albert Hall and the Royal Festival Hall, and festivals across the UK an across the world such as Glastonbury, Fuji Rock and Sonar Festival. Anna has toured with artists and bands including Jon Lord, Jethro Tull, Roxy Music, Oi Va Voi, and the Trans Siberian Orchestra, as well as a solo artist with her own band.

Sunday 8 November 2015

Hossein Alizadeh, Iran's most iconic composer and instrumentalist joins forces with vocalist Alireza Ghorbani, the virtuoso musicians of the Hamavayan Ensemble and Zarbang Quartet to create what promises to be an unforgettable evening of Persian music at it's best.

Sunday 8 June 2014 / 7:30pm

Born into a family of musicians, Bianca Gismonti has experienced music as a natural part of her environment from an early age. With the support of her father (renowned Brazilian composer Egberto Gismonti), she played with two group ensembles (‘Ofelex’, ‘Trio Arcano’). She then formed a piano duo, the ‘Duo Gisbranco’, with her college friend Claudia Castelo Branco and together recorded two albums.

In the past few years Bianca worked together with her drummer and husband, Julio Falavigna, to produce a new album “Sonhos de Nascimento” (Dreams of birth). Taking inspiration from the rich tradition of ethnic rhythms and harmonious melodies of Brazil, the album features many of their compositions arranged for piano, bass, drums and percussion.

Monday 30 June 2014 / 8pm

The Sachal Jazz Ensemble is a group of virtuosic master musicians from Pakistan who incorporate Eastern instruments such as sitar, sarod, tabla, and dholak into new interpretations of jazz standards that are informed by their own rich musical tradition. The group has proven to be a viral sensation with nearly 700k views of their interpretations of Dave Brubeck’s ‘Take Five’ and REM’s ‘Everybody Hurts’ on YouTube.

In this ground-breaking collaboration, the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis and the Sachal Jazz Ensemble will perform new arrangements, blending the sonorities of modern and ancient instruments and using the jazz form to integrate American values of blues and swing with sophisticated and highly-evolved Eastern music traditions.

Tuesday 1 July 2014 at 6:30pm

Sachal Jazz Ensemble Kings Place, London

The Sachal Jazz Ensemble is a group of virtuosic master musicians from Pakistan who incorporate Eastern instruments such as sitar, flute, tabla and dholak into new interpretations of jazz standards, that are informed by their own rich musical tradition.

Over the last year, Sachal Jazz Ensemble's ground-breaking collaboration with Wynton Marsalis and The Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra has blended the sonorities of modern and ancient instruments; the use of the jazz form to integrate American values of blues and swing with sophisticated and highly-evolved Eastern music traditions has received critical acclaim.

The group's music has proven to be a viral sensation with over 800k of combined views of their interpretations of Dave Brubeck’s Take Five, REM’s Everybody Hurts and their latest track, the Beatles' Eleanor Rigby on YouTube.

Sachal Jazz Ensemble will perform some new arrangements as well as tracks from their new album Jazz And All That.

Saturday 8 November 2014 / 7:30pm

Sachal Jazz Ensemble & Strings From The London Symphony Orchestra (LSO)
Barbican, London

Global YouTube and iTunes chart-topping sensation Sachal Jazz present an exclusive concert. Combining western instruments with sitar, sarod, tabla and dholak, the Lahore-based Pakistani ensemble breathes new life into well known bossa nova and jazz standards including The Girl from Ipanema, Desafinado (Slightly out of Tune) and Dave Brubeck’s legendary Take Five, which he said was, ‘the most interesting and different recording of Take Five that I’ve heard.’ Dedicated to his memory, the latest album Jazz And All That showcases the best of East meets West, and includes jazz standards that can’t fail to delight.

Saturday 5 December / 7:30pm

Arnab Chakrabarty grew up in Mumbai, where his father was a professor of chemistry at the Indian Institute of Technology. His tutelage commenced under the Sarod exponent Brij Narayan, disciple of his father the Sarangi maestro Pandit Ram Narayan and also Ustad Ali Akbar Khan of the Seniya Maihar Gharana. Arnab subsequently trained under Pandit Buddhadev Das Gupta of the Shahjahanpur Gharana.

At the age of 18 Arnab received a Ford Foundation scholarship, which led to a dual degree in ethnomusicology and international relations from Hampshire College in 2002. This experience exposed him to other traditions of music, and led him to experiment with new ideas in sarod construction and design, as well as musical idioms.

Shahbaz Hussain is fast emerging as one of the most promising tabla virtuosos of his generation. He has received numerous accolades for his captivating performances, including receiving the prestigious "Son of Lahore" Award from the Government of Pakistan in 2008.

Shahbaz is an extremely versatile tabla player. He has mastered all the imperative traditional skills as well as the ability to project those skills to more contemporary styles. His solo performances have gained great recognition all over the world. He is also much sought after for his accompaniment skills by many of the great masters musicians of India & Pakistan - including Ustad Salamat Ali Khan, Ustad Shahid Parvez, Ustad Rais Khan, Ustad Fateh Ali Khan, Pt Hariprasad Chaurasia and ghazal legend Ghulam Ali to name but a few.

Sunday 6 December / 6pm

Shradhanjali - Indian Classical
The Tabernacle, Notting Hill, London

This concert pays homage to the memory of the Tabla legend Pandit Sharda Sahai ji the direct descendant of Pandit Ram Sahai ji (1780 - 1826) the founder of the Benares Gharana (School) of Tabla.

Sri Sanju Sahai ji (also known as Vishnu Sahai ji), continues the Benares Gharana lineage and represents the 6th generation of Tabla players. An acclaimed international artist, he is the torch bearer of the wonderfully unique Benares Tabla repertoire. Pandit Ramesh Mishra ji will accompany on the beautifully haunting Sarangi. He is regarded as one of India’s foremost players and is himself internationally renowned and respected.

The pair will feature during the evening’s second half performance, a Tabla solo with Sarangi accompaniment (lehra). In their own unique ways, they will be paying respects to an uncle and a father, the legendary Pandit Sharda Sahai ji.
During the first half of the evening’s program, Kaashi Arts are fortunate to be hosting very special guests & prominent artists Ustad Dharambir Singh Dhadyalla, Manorama Prasad, Mehboob Nadeem, Chandra Chakrabarty, Bhupinder Chagger and Upneet Singh Dhadyalla - all to be performing devotional and commemorative pieces in memory of Pandit Sharda Sahai ji.

Sunday 13 December / 6:30pm

Dr Vijay Rajput - Khyal
The Music Room @ Friends Hearth, London

London Born in new Delhi, India, Dr. Vijay Rajput started Learning Music at a tender of eight. He acquired his initial training and guidance from Pt. M. G. Deshpande, Pt. VinayChander Mudgal and pt. Madhup Mudgal ji.Subsequently, he had a rare opportunity to learn for many years under the tutelage of world renowned Bharat Ratna Pt. Bhimsen Joshi Ji.

As a maestro of khayal style of rendition and an artist of international repute, his performances have mesmerized audiences in India and abroad. He has performed in many national and international Sangeet Sammelans festivals and Mahotsave.

Tuesday 1 March 2016 / 6:30pm

‘Ameen is vibrant, inspiring and the most promising Sarod player in the country’ - Hindustan Times. Ameen Ali Khan is an outstanding Indian classical musician belongs to the seventh generation of great musicians. His father was the celebrated Sarod artist Ustad Rehmat Ali Khan and grandson of the great Ustad Hafiz Ali Khansaheb. Sarod Maestro, Ustad Amjad Ali Khan is his uncle. Ameen is known for his passionate and moving style of playing and his aesthetic purity and tradition. He has played at several major festivals all around the world.

Accompanying him is Shahbaz Hussain, one of the outstanding tabla players of his generation. Shahbaz started learning the tabla at age five with his father, the late Ustad Mumtaz Hussain – a prominent vocalist. He trained under late Ustad Faiyaz Khan (Delhi Gharana), late Ustad Shaukat Hussain Khan and the late Ustad Allah Rakha Khan( Punjab Gharana). Shahbaz is known for his traditional skills as well as the ability to project those skills to more contemporary styles. His solo performances have gained recognition all over the world.

Wednesday 2 March 2016 / 6:30pm

Nicolas Magriel, born in New York, has been playing the sarangi since 1970. He has studied with several distinguished sarangi players including Ustad Sabri Khan, Pandit Gopal Mishra, Ustad Abdul Latif Khan and Ustad Mohammed Ali Khan. He has done research on various aspects of Hindustani music. He also studied vocal music with the renowned khayal singer and musicologist Pandit Dilip Chandra Vedi, dhrupad singing with Ustad Fayazuddin Dagar and khayal with Ustad Aslam Khan. He has performed widely in the UK and Europe as a soloist and as an accompanist to vocalists and Kathak dancers, appeared many times on television and contributed sarangi for numerous film and theatre scores.

In 2001, Nicolas completed his PhD at the University of London, analysing sarangi style and its relationship with vocal music. From 2002 until 2008, while continuing to perform and teach sarangi and vocal music, he was working on an AHRC-funded project transcribing and analysing 492 bandishes, the songs of khayal, the pre-eminent genre of Hindustani classical vocal music. The Songs of Khayal was published by Manohar Books in 2013. Many of Nicolas’s articles on Indian music have been published in journals. Nicolas went on to the research project “Beyond Text: Growing into Music”, a video-based project on the musical enculturation of children—seven of his films can be seen on www.growingintomusic.co.uk.During the last year, he has been producing www.sarangi.net, an extensive archival video website covering everything about the sarangi and sarangi players in India.

John Millar (aka Jhalib) first took an interest in tabla in his twenties. He met and took lessons from Ustad Alla Rakha in San Francisco in 1980, continuing his studies under the great master whenever he came to London during the 80s & 90s. Whilst most of Jhalib’s work in music has been as a player and composer in Indo-Jazz, Indo-Pop and music for contemporary dance, he has maintained Indian classical tabla as his forte throughout his career.

Saturday 12 March 2016 / 7pm

Houmayoun Sakhi - Rabab / Salar Nader - Tabla
The Music Room, London

Homayoun Sakhi is a world class Rubab maestro from Afghanistan. Living in the USA, Homayoun has performed in many countries around the globe as well as participating in countless music festivals. He has performed before royalties and heads of states such as His Highness Karim Agha Khan, President of India, Shri Pranab Mukherji, President Karzai of Afghanistan and the Dalai Lama. He was also the winner of BIG APPLE best artist award 2015.

Salar Nader A German-born Afghan & a USA resident, is a grade 1 student and disciple of Ustad Zakir Hussain. Salar is a world class international Tabla virtuoso, having accompanied many well known Afghan, Indian and Pakistani artists such as the late Ustad Salamat Ali Khan, Ustad Shujaat Khan, Ustad Rashid Khan, Ustad Ghulam Ali , Kala Ramnath and Rahul Sharma amongst others

Music Room Events: Presented by Friends Hearth in association with Sama Arts Network

2012 - Queen Elizabeth Hall, Alchemy Festival - Sachal Jazz Ensemble

About

Sama Arts Network is one of the UK's oldest and most influential arts organisations in the genre of traditional and contemporary South Asian arts. It also presents Orchestral, Jazz and World Music.

Established in 1977, Sama has curated more than 1,000 events with acclaimed artists from the UK and other parts of the world. They have included tours, concerts, festivals, educational talks, workshops, seminars, lecture-demos, film screenings, and visual and performing arts. Many concerts were filmed, recorded archived and released through both on the physical and digital platforms.

Sama’s area of work is in the field of curating festivals, project commissions of new works, label management, consultancy, recording, music publishing and securing intellectual property rights.

Sama's new website is under construction and will launched in the Autumn 2015.